Truck suspension means



Allg. `19, 1941. H E, aum-muc; 2,253,042

TRUCK sUsPENsIfoN MEANS Filed March 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ugw, WM,n-l. E. MUCHNIC TRUCK SUSPENSION MEANS Filed March 30, 1940 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 19, 1941 TRUCK SUSPENSION MEANS Henry E.Muchnie, Atchison, Kans., assignor to The Locomotive Finished MaterialCompany, Atchison, Kans., a corporation of Kansasv Application March so,i940, serial No. 326,826

(ci. 10s- 182) 6 Claims. My invention relates to suspension means moreespecially intended for the trucks of railroad` cars and has for itsobject the `provision of mechanism for absorbing the movements of-thewheels and axles and :preventing the transmission of the jars or jolts,encountered by the wheels, to the truck frame and hence to the car body.

The invention contemplates a structure invoiving resilient cushioningelements, such as degree of cushioning action or extent oi deflec-` tionmay be regulated and the extent of relative movement between the axlesand the truck frame may be controlled.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readilycomprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one side of a railroad car truck with mysuspension means. applied; a portion or the latter being shown insection.

Figure 2 is a side elevation oi the truck shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional viewtaken 'substantially on the line3--3 'of Figure 1 as viewed by the arrows.

Figure 4 is` a side elevationl of a portion oil a truck illustrating amodified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalview taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the tension regulating memberemployed in both exemplications of the invention. V

In the exempliilcationsr ofI the invention my improved suspension meanshas been applied toA a pedestal type of truck frame; the side frame I5at its end being provided with integral pedestals I6 in which the usualjournal-boxes I1 are slid-` ably mounted, which, in this instance,receive the ends of the journals I8 disposed through the wheels I9; thetops of the journal-boxes I1 being preferably provided with anupstanding boss 20, see Figure 2. It will be understood, o! course,-

that the side frame at the opposite side of the truck and associatedelements heretofore described are ci similar construction and that theelements now to be described are duplicated on the other side of thetruck.

The side i'rame I5 at a distance removed from the pedestals I6, and onopposite sides of the bolster 2l and its center bearing 22, is providedwith a pair of depending brackets 23, 23 preferably iormedintegraltherewith.

The lower end of each bracket 23 terminates.

in a semi-hub portion 24 and a cap portion 25 removably securedl to thesemi-hub portion 24 by suitable bolts as at 26; the hub 24, 25 rotatablysupporting the end oi.' a. cross member or rod 21.4 The outer face ofthe hub 24, isprovided with a. plurality of circumferentially arrangedteeth 28.

The cross member 21 in the exemplilcation is'in` the nature of a tubularrod whose ends are each provided with a stud 28 rigidly secured thereinand extending outwardly beyond the hub portion of the bracket 23 and ofsquare o r noncircular cross-section; while the immediate outer end isshown reduced' and screw-threaded, see

. Figure 1. The nou-circularY portion of the stud is provided with atoothed thimble or ratchet wheel 30 provided with a square ornon-circular opening and preferably with bar ortool receiving holes 3|,see Figure 6'; the teeth of the ratchet wheel 30 meshing with thecircumferentially arranged teeth'2l of the hub ,24, 25, and the meshingcondition being maintained by suitable` nuts 32 which screw onto thelthreaded end oi.'

and the bracket 23.

The cross member 21- is provided with a resilient sleeve or rubbercushion element 33 which is vulcanized to the cross member and extendstransversely of the ,truck to a sumcient extent to afford the desiredtorsional spring action.

The cushion element 33 is enclosed in a tubular section or sleeve 34 towhich the cushion element is also vulcanized in order that a torsionalrelation between the cross) member 21 and the tubular section or sleeve34 may be provided.

The outer end of each tubular section or sleeve 34 is provided with anarm 35 which is rigidly secured thereto, while the free end of the armhas a downwardly disposed face adapted to bear on the journal-box I1situated at the same end of the truck; the end of the arm beingpreferably I socketed to receive the boss 20 on the journal y box andprovide a o rocking relation therebetween.

In the particular,exempliilcation. the arms 35 with the bifurcationsdisposed on opposite sides of the frame and hence in bearing relationwith a greater portion of the Journal-box I1.

The inner side oi' the side'frame I5 at points intermediate of theplanes oi the suspension mechanism heretofore described and the bolster2| is provided with inwardly disposed brackets 36, apertured to receivepins 31 whereby the links 38 are swingingly supported in place; thelower ends of the links 38 being pivotally secured at 39 (see Figure 3)to the bottom oi.' the adjacent ends of the bolster 2l which is thusswingingly suspended from the truck side frames.

In the structure described, the cross member 21 is clamped or secured tothe side frame and in order that the cushion suspension means mayproperly absorb the shocks or movements of the wheels, the rubberelements are placed under torsion which is accomplished by unscrewingnuts 32 suiiiciently to permit rotation of the ratchet wheels'3 '(whichmay be accomplished either with va suitable tool or by inserting a shortrod or piece of pipe in the holes 3| of the ratchet wheel 30) and henceof the cross members or rods 21 which are rotatably held in the brackets23 of the sideframe. With the tubular rubber elements 33 'vulcanized tothe cross members 21 and also to the sleeves 34 oi.' the arms 35, it isapparsional spring action of the suspension mechanism, the nuts 42 arearranged on the rod. 4I, at predetermined distances from theY flanges ofthe ,short arms 35a of the bell-crank levers 35, as shown in Figure 2.

In Figures 4 and 5 I illustrate a modiication in so far as the method ofmounting the cross members and the fulcrum pointsoi the supporting armsareconcerned; that is to say, instead of the fixed fulcrums ofthesupporting arms 35 of Figurel, the supporting arms of the structureshown in Figures 4 and 5 are swingingly mounted. The structure ofFigures 4 and 5 shows the side frame I5, at points removed from thepedestal ends, provided with outwardly disposed brackets 43 whose endsare bifurcated and disposed downwardly-namely somewhat of inverted'U-shape in cross-section, as shown in Figure 5--to receive the lobes 44of the hangers 45.

The hangers 45, which are swingingly supporty ed by pins 46, receive theends of the cross members or rods 21--shown similar to those disclosedin Figure l, but which may be of the types hereinbefore mentioned`whichextend transversely cular portions of the studs 29 rigidly secured inThe cross members 21, as previously stated,

may consist of suitable rods capable of withstanding the torsionalstrains, or these members may consist of telescopically arranged tubesextending from side frame to side frame, with the ends clamped in thesectional hubs 24, 25 and each preferably provided with the a'nnularlyarranged teeth 23 and cooperating ratchet wheel 30. Both ends of eachcross member 21 are provided with sleeve portions'34 of lengthcommensurate with the predetermined length of the rubber elements 33capable of providing the degree of torsion.

In practice,'the rubber elements 33 are initially placed under torsionsuiilcient to yieldingly support the side frames I5 with the suspendedbolster 2| and superposed car body; but in order to prevent excessivedownward movement of the free ends ofthe bell-crank levers or arms 35,if occasion should require, removal of the truck'from beneath the carand hence to prevent the unloaded side frames |5 land bolster` 2|swinging too far upwardly, and to regulate the degree of deection orextent of relative movement between the truck side frame (with theattached or integral pedestals and the journal-boxes, I provide a rod 4|which extends lengthwise of the truck. The rod.'

4| is screw-threaded at each end and is oi suin- `cient lengthto extendbeneath and beyond the fulcrum points of the bell-crank levers 35 whichu are provided with short arms 35* extending downstop Amechanism forarresting excessive movements, but in order not to interfere with thetorthe ends of the tubular cross members 21; the outer ends of the studs29 being threaded and provided with suitable washers and nuts as at 32whereby the ratchet wheels 30 are rmly -held in ratcheting relation withthe teeth of the hangers 45.

'I'he cross members 21, inwardly of the hangers 45, have the rubberelements or sleeves 33 vulcanized thereon against independent rotation;these elements or sleeves 33 are enclosed in and vulcanized to thetubular portions or sleeves 48 formed integral with the hubs 49' of thearms 49; the sleeves 43 being preferably welded, as at 5|), to the hubsof the arms and thus provide what may be termed as bell-crank levers. Asis apparent, any relative rotative movement between the rods 21 and thebell-crank levers will be torsionally resisted by the rubber sleeves.ends of the arms 49, see Figure 4, extend across the tops of thejournal-boxes I1, being preferably provided with downwardly facingsurfaces socketed to receive the bosses 20 onthe tops of thejournal-boxes to permit. a rocking relation between the arms orbell-crank levers and the Journalboxes.

Upon loosening the nuts 32,.the'ratchet wheels 30 and the cross membersmay be rotated thereby placing the rubber elements under tension whichis transmitted through the tubular portions or sleeves 48 to the arms49; it being understood that the nutsv 32 are screwed tightly againstthe ratchet wheels 30 as soon as sufficient tension has beenobtained-this condition being maintained by holding the ratchetwheelsaginst movement while screwing the nuts 32 up tightly.

The inner side of the truck side frame member I5, similar to Figure 3,is provided with a bracket 36 to which the upper ends of the linksv 33are pivotally secured while the lower ends of the links 38 are pivotallysecured at 33 to the bottom of the bolster 2|, thereby swinginglysuspending the bolster from the truck side The outer diate of the endsof said whereby the rods may be rotated -to provide the of said rods Mid4. Truck suspension means comprising, in combination with the sideframes and the jour# frames-it being understood that similar mechanismsare employed on both sides of the truck.

'Ihe hubs of the bell-crank levers or arms I9, as in Figure 2, may beprovided with the downwardly disposed arms or iianges 35 apertured toreceive the threaded ends of a rod 4| provided with nuts 42, toconstitute stop mechanism for arresting excessive vertical movementsaspre-- viously described.

The exemplications shown in the drawings are believed to be the bestembodiments of the `members mounted on the ends of said rods with theirother ends bearing on the journal-boxes; shock absorbing rubber elementsimmovably secured to said rods and to the hubs of said lever members,whereby the latter are maintained in pressure exerting -relation with'the journalboxes; and adjustable means operatively intermediate oftheends of said rods and the truck side frames whereby the rods may berotated, the torsion of the rubber elements regulated and the rotatedrelation of the rods to the truck side frames maintained. e

Y 2. Truck suspension means comprising, in

Y combination with the side frame and the :lournal-boxes of a car truck,rods disposed transversely o! and rotatably secured to the side frame ofthe truck; vertically oscillatable lever members mounted at one of theirends on said rods, while the other ends bear on the journalboxes: shockabsorbing rubber sleeves intermediate of the rods and the lever membersand immovably secured tothe rods and to the lever members; regulablemeans operatively intermeand the side frame desired torsion stress tosupport the truck.

3. Truck suspension means comprising, in combination with the sideframes and the journal-boxes of a car truck, transversely disposed rodsrotatably supported at their ends by the 4.side frames; torsionproviding means secured to said rods; lever members xedly mounted at oneof their ends on said torsion pro.. viding means while their other endsmove vertically into bearing4 relation with the journalboxes; meansoperatively intermediate the' endsthe side trames whereby the rods `maybe rotated and the torsion of the torsion means controlled; and meansfor limiting the vertical movement ot said lever members.

l nal-boxes; ratchet mechanism operatively aswhereby vertical movementof said nal-boxes'of a car truck, transversely disposed rods rotatablysupported from the side frames; rubber sleeves arranged on and immovablysecured to said rods; vertically swinging levers with one of their endsarranged in bearing rela-v tion with the journal-boxes while the otherends are disposed about said rubber sleevesand immovably securedthereto; ratchet mechanism operatively connected with the ends`of saidrods and with the truck side trames whereby the rods may be rotated, thetorsion of said sleeves regulated and the rotated positions of the rodsmaintained; and means for limiting the vertical movements of said'levers in either direction.

5..Truck suspension means comprising, in combination with the sideframes and the journal-boxes of a car truck, transversely disposed rodsrotatably supported at their ends by the side frames; rubber sleevesarrangedI on and immovably secured to said rods; vertically swinginglevers provided at one of their ends with elongated hubs disposedaboutsaid rubber sleeves and iixedly secured thereto while the otherends are arrangedin bearing relation with the joursociated with the endsof said rods and with the truck side frames whereby the rods may berotated, the torsion of the rubber sleeves regulated and the rotatedpositions of the rods mairitained; and regulable safety meansintermediate the levers on the sameV levers beyond predetermined limitsis prevented.

6. Truck suspension means comprising, in combination with the sideframes and the journal-boxes of a car truck, the side frames havingdepending split brackets; transversely disposed rods rotatablysupportedat their endsin the brackets of the side frames; rubber sleevesdisiposed ylengthwise of the rods and immovably secured to said rods;lever members provided at one of their ends 4with elongated hubsdisposed about the rubber sleeves and vulcanized thereto while the otherends of the levers are arranged in bearing relation `with thejournal-boxes; ratchet mechanism operatively intermediate the ends ofthe rods and the side frame brackets whereby the rods may be rotated,the rubber sleeves placed in torsion and the rods maintained in theirrotated positions; and regulable means intermediate the hubs of thelevers disposed on the same side of the truck whereby the extent ofvertical movements of the outer ends of the levers in either directionbeyond predetermined limits are controlled.

' HENRY E. MUCHNIC.

side of the truck frame

